Adding machine



Aug. 5, 1924. 1,504,128

w. K. HARRIS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 5 1924.

I W. K. HARRKS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19 192] 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 5 1924.

W. K. HARRIS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 5 1924c 1,504,120

W. K. HARRIS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 5, 1924.

W. K. HARRIS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 arrz'ggwmm Aug. 5 1924. 1,504,120

w. K. HARRIS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 7 SheetsSheet e Aug. 5 1924. 1,504,120

' W. K. HARRIS ADDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 7 ShcS-Sheeo '7 Eatented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES WALTER KARL HARRIS, OF LOGKI-IABT, TEXAS.

ADDENG Application filed Nonember To aZZ who-72L it may concern,

Be it known that I, lVALrnn KARL Hiinius, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lockhart, in the county of Caldwell and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Adding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an adding machine, one of the objects thereof being to reduce the number of parts so as thus greatlyvto simplify the mechanism and consequently reduce the cost and at the same time insure durability without impairing its ccuracy.

A further object is to provide a. machine having simple means cont-rolled by the depressible keys whereby the proper actuation of the number disks of the machine can be effected by the operation of the mechanism of the machine, means being employed whereby the keys after being actuated and after completing the coupling actions, will be automatically re et pending the next operation of the machine.

A further object is to provide a simple means under the control of the operator forresetting one or more keys should they be depressed through error.

Another objectis to provide a simple means whereby the machine may be reset whenever desired with all of the cipher characters visible prior to the starting of the addition.

Another object is to provide eflicient means for transmitting motion rro one s in the disk to another so that the numeral window of the machine will be displa d in proper numerical succession to giro a correct total.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, theinvention resides in the combinat-ion and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

5 In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of the machine adapted for three columns of figures.

the sweep bar and showing the coupling membe "s thereon.

Figure 8 is an edge View of the structure shown in Figure 7.

lgure 9 is a horizontal section through certain of the depressible keys and showing the m ans for holding them yieldingly supill 6 tal as preferred. In the present snown formed of metal and is d with removable cover plate 2 I a depending portion 3 formed with arcuatc lower surface l adapted to be unp-orted within the upper portion of the sensing. Formed within the top or cover parallel columns of slots 5, there being i .bly nine slots in each column and each being disposed substantially at 4l5 to the longitudinal axis of the column. The mnnher of columns of slots depends upon the capacity of the machine. if the machine is to be usul for adding three columns of 1 be three col mns of slots in the drawings. here the r t ie machine is increased to four or more columns, the number of columns of slots will be correspondingly increased.

Slidably mounted within each of the slots 5 is the shank 6 of key '7. In the structure shown each key is formed of a strip of sheet me al shaped at the top to form a head on i 1 a character may be displayed. The 1 6 of each key is formed by extending strip from the head at such. an it will work freely within the 1 one y oisposed slot in the top or cover 2. siank 6 also extends into and is adapted to slide within one of a series of slots 8 formed in the arcuate surface of the cepending iortion of the top or cover shown in Figure the shanks com ergo downwardly and are of different lengths so that when the lower ends of the shanks are housed in the slots 8 the heads 7 on the shanks will be supported in a common plane ixtending parallel with the upper surface of the top or cover 2. Notches 9 are provided in the shanks and each notch is adapted to be engaged by one of a series of spring fingers 1O fastened on the top or cover 2 as shown particularly in Figure 9. The parts are so proportioned and located that when the heads 7 are in their normal or raised positions as shown in Figure 4: the spring fingers 10 will be seated in. the various notches 9 so as to hold the keys elevated. lVhen a key is pressed downwardly, however, the notched portion of its shank 6 will be thrust out of engagement with the spring finger 10. When, however, the key is pushed upwardly to its normal position the spring finger cooperating therewith will snap into the notch 9 and thus hold the key.

The keys of each column are provided with characters on their upper faces, as heretofore stated. There are preferably nine keys to each column and these keys are provided with characters ranging from 1 to 9 extending in proper numerical succession, the character 1 being located on the front key of each column while the character 9 is located on the rear key of each column.

For the purpose of simultaneously raising all of the keys so that they can be reset by the operator in case of error in depressing the keys, there is mounted on the top or cover 2 a lifting plate 11 provided with longitudinal slots 12 through each of which extend the shanks of one column of keys. Links 13 are pivotally connected to the corner portions of the lifting plate and e tend through slots 14- in the top or cover 2, the lower ends of the links being pivotaily mounted as shown at 15 in Figure 4. A finger piece 16 is extended upwardly from the back edge of the lifting plate and by pulling upwardly on this finger piece the plate 11 will move upwardly agai tli. heads 7 of the keys so that any keys that may have been depressed will. thus be brought back to their normal or raiseex positions. It will be noted that this plate 11 has its edges downturned so that when the plate is in its normal position on the top or cover 2 it constitutes a housing for the spring fingers 10.

A window 17 is provided in the front wall of the housing 1 n ar the bottom thereof and arranged back of this window is a series of number wheels 18, each of these wheels being provided on its periphery with numerals ranging fron 1 to 0 in proper numerical succession, there being peripheral notches 19 within each wheel and between the numerals. There are the same number of wheels 18 as there are columns of keys and all of the wheels are mounted to rotate freely on a supporting shaft 20 mounted in the housing there being spacing sleeves 21 on this shart for holding the wheels the proper distances apart and against lateral displacement relative to the walls of the housing. See Figure 6. Each wheel 18 is provided at that side thereof nearest the wheel representing the next highest decimal position, with a pin 22 placed inwardly from that portion on which the character 0 appears and another pin 23 is provided on the same side of the wheel but nearer the periphery thereof and inwardly from that portion of the wheel on which the numeral 7 appears.

A lever 24 is fulcrunied as at 25 upon the inner side of the front wall of the housing and the lower portion of this lever extends between two of the wheels. A laterally extending car 26 is provided at the lower end of the lever and is adapted to be engaged by the pin 22 so as to thrust said end forwardly until the pin is free to slip past the ear. Another ear 27 is extended laterally from the lever at a point above the shaft 20 and is adapted to be engaged by the pin 23 which will shift the lower portion of the lever backwardly until the pin can pass the ear. A head 28 is formed at the upper end of the lever and has a presser foot 29 on the back edge thereof while formed in the upper edge of the head are spaced notches 30 either of which is adapted to receive the free end of a holding spring 31. Thus when the lever is shifted to either of the two positions heretofore mentioned the spring 31 will engage in one or the other of the notches 30 and hold the lever until again shifted.

Secured to one side wall of the housing is a stud 32 having a centering projection 33 extending inwardly therefrom, On this stud is journaled one end of a tubular shaft 3st the other end of which extends through the opposed wall of the housing 1 and has a crank arm secured thereto. This crank arm is spaced from the housing by a washer 36 and a cap 37 is secured to the outer side of the hub portion of the crank arm and closes the outer end of the shaft 3 1. A stud 38 extends inwardly from this cap and has a projection 39 extending inwardly. To this stud 39 is secured one end of a coiled spring 40 housed within the hollow shaft 34:, the other end of the coiled spring being secured to the fixed projection 33. Thus it will be seen that when the crank arm is swung forwardly out of its normal position the shaft 3 1- will be rotated therewith and the spring 40 will be placed under tension. lVhen the crank arm 35 is released, however, the spring will automatically rotate the shaft 3 1 so as to restore the crank an to its normal or rearwardly extended position.

Mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 34 are disks 41 equal in number to the number of columns of keys. Each of these disks is formedin its periphery with preferably thirty notches as shown at 42 and projecting outwardly between the notches are radial pins 43 thirty of which are provided on each wheel. These pins are adapted to work within the notches 19 in the respective number wheels 18 and as there are thirty pins on each of the disks 41 it will be apparent that each number wheel will make three completei rotations during one rotation of the disk cooperating therewith. The notches 42 are provided for the reception of holding wheels 44 which, as shown in Figure 3, are provided with peripheral grooves 45 whereby the pins 43 are enabled to pass the wheels 44 freely. Each wheel 44 is journaled in a frame 46 which extends upwardly and is pivotally mounted on a pin 47 supported in a slotted block 48 and extending from this block are! arms 49 each of which is connected to one of th frames 46 by a spring 50. See Figure 4. The springs serve to hold wheels 44 pressed yieldingly against the disks 41 so that said disks will be held against accidental rotation, each wheel being seated in one of the notches 42.

Extending laterally from each of the disks 41 at a point inwardly from each tenth pin 43 is a pin 51 and extending radially from each disk at one side of each of said tenth pins is a supplemental or resetting pin 52. In Figure 4 these pins on the three disks have been illustrated in side elevation, said pins being out of transverse alignment. The laterally extending pins 51 on two of the disks have also been indicated by dotted lines in this figure.

Mounted to swing or move with the shaft 84 are arms 53, the disks 41 being located between these arms. The arms are con? nected at their outer ends by parallel cross bars 54 and 55 which are supported close to the outer ends of the pins 52 and 43 but do not contact therewith. The bar 55 has a series of spring fingers or runners 56 attached thereto and equal in number to the number of columns of keys. These runners are adapted to travel along the arcuate surface 8 of the top or cover 2 and to elevate any keys the lower ends of which have been depressed. below the surface 8.

Pivotally mounted on the bar 54 are coupling yokes 57 equal in number to the number of disks 41 each of which is provided on that portion remote from its pivot 58, with a channeled portion 59. An car 60 extends downwardly from the lower portions of certain of these yokes 57 in the structure shown the upper portion of the intermediate yoke 57 has a laterally extendprojecting lugs ing finger 61 with a downturned portion 62 adapted to be moved into engagement with one of the adjoining yokes 57. The channeled portions 59 extend inwardly beyond the bar 54 so as normally to project between the paths of the pins 43. The other ends of these channeled portions project outwardly so as to move against and be shifted laterally in one direction by stationary switches or deflectors 63 located close to but above the head 28 of lever 24. Another set of switches or deflectors 64 is located below the head 28, these deflectors 64 also lying in the path of the portions 59 so as to be engaged thereby.

Extending between the middle disk 41 and one of the adjoining disks is lever 65 fulcrumed, as at 66 upon a block 67. This lever has spaced notches 68 either one of which is adapted to be engaged by a spring 69 so as to hold the lever in either of two positions. A nose 70 is extended from the free or upper end of the lever and has a laterally extending ear 71 therron. This ear is adapted to be engaged by one of the pins 51 during the rotation of a disk 41 with the result that the nose will be swung outwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 so that when the yoke carrying bar 54 is m ved forwardly and downwardly one of the portions 59 will come against and be shifted laterally by the nose 70.

For the purpose of resetting the machine so that all of the number wheels will display the character 0, as when a problem in addition is to be started, there is provided a resetting mechanism which includes bar 72 which is slidable on the bar 55 and has downwardly projecting lugs 7 3 located normally between the paths of the pins 52. One end of this bar normally rides beneath an arcuate rail 74 slidably mounted on one side wall of the housing and carried by a strip 75. This strip is yieldingly supported by springs 78 and has av key 77 attached thereto and slidable in one side portion of the top of the housing. The ends of the rail 74 are beveled as at 78. When it is desired to reset the mechanism the key 77 is depressed, the crank arm having first been swung rearwardly to its extreme position so that the bar 55 and the sliding bar 72 are located back of the rail 74. By then pulling forwardly on the crank arm 35 the end of the sliding bar 72 will ride onto the beveled end 78 of the rail 74 and be shifted longitudinally. This will bring the downwardly 7 3 on the bar into the path with the result that during forward movement of the crank arm the disks 41 will be lined up with their pins 52 in alignment, and the number wheels 18 will be correspondof the pins 52 the continued ingly lined up so as to bring all of the characters 0 into position back of the window 17.

Under normal conditions the crank arm is back at its limit or movement, the keys are all elevated so as to be held by the springs 10, the bars 5 and are located adjacent the back wall of the housing, the character O on all of the wheels 18 is visible through the window 17, and the levers are swung back so that the ears T1 are retracted from the peripheries ol the disks ll. i l hen several numbers are to be added the ieys corresponding with the numerals of the first sum are depressed. For example it' the first sum is 325 the key in the lirst or leitt hand column and on which. the numeral 3 appears .is pushed downwardly, the 2 key in the middle column is dc pressech and the 5 key in the third or rigl hand column is also depressed. The pro jecting portions 59 on the yokes 57 are normally positioned be" u the planes oa'i' movement of the pins Thus when the crank is swung forwardly after the kc 6 have been depressed these portions 59 will move unhindered until they come into contact with the obliquely disposed lower end portions 01 the respective depressed k shanks 6. These shanks will serve cclectors which, when engaged by the upper ends of the portions 59 will deflect said por tions laterally so that they will assume sitions between certain of the pins 33 on t respective disks 41. For example in the present instance the yoke 57 shifted by the left hand depressed key will be shifted laterally behind the third pin 48 back from the switch 63. The yoke 5'7 deflected by the 2 key will be directed behind the second x ilB pin 423, from the switch 63, on the middle disk. The yoke 57 shifted laterally by the key in the third or right hand coluin will assun'ie a position behind that on the third or right hand disk 11 filth. remorcd from the switch 63. the arm 35 continues to move forward downward the yokes will pick up or ac the disks l5 that the left hand disk rotate its wheel 18 three numbers the dle disk will rotate its number wheel in numbers and the third or right and will rotate its wheel 18 live numbers. disks will only rotate these selected tances and thus display the selected numbers because as the yokes arrive at the switch 68 the upper ends of their portions 59 will come against the stationary switches 63 and said yokes will thus be swung laterally out of engagement with the pins on the disks. Each subsequent sum to be added is recorded in the same manner as that described, it being understood that upon the completion of each forward stroke of the arm 35 it is possible to swing said arm backward to its normal position, the yokes 57 moving free of the pins. It will furthermore be noted that curing each forward movement of the arm 35 the runners 56 reset those keys which have been depressed.

The pins 51 are so located that when one disk has operated sulliciently to bring the character 0 of its number wheel to position back of the window 17 the pin 51 on said wheel will depress the ear 71 on the adjacent lever 65 and force it out *ardly beyond the periphery of the disk, this outward move ment of the ear being sullicientto allow the pin 51 to pass the ear and also to shift the ther notch 68 into engagen'ientwith the spring 69. This shifted position of one of the levers 65 has been illustrated in Figure 4. As a result of this operation when another sum is to be added to those previously totalized the yokes will all be shilfted laterally out of engagement with the pins 5,4 by the switches (l as heretotore explained and during the continued downward movement of the bar Set, the longitudinal portion of the ear (3!) will come against the nose T0 of said lever and be shifted laterally thereby so as to cause its particular yoke to assume a position behind one of the pins on the disk at the left of said yoke. This shitting takes place at such a point that the disks can move one-thirtieth or a rotation thereafter with the result that the engaged disk will. be shifted independently of the other disks for a distance o'li one tooth. This will be sullicient to advance the number wh el 01": aid disk one number and at the same time bring the outer end of the part 59 01 the yoke against one of the switches 64; which will shift said yoke back to its normal position and clear of the disk and its pins. It will be noted that when t arm 35 is swung back after this operation the cleared yoke will press against the nose TO and thrust the lever 65 back to its inner or normal position where it will be held by spring 69 becoming seated in the lower notch 68.

Each time the numeral 9 on the middle wheel 18 appears in the window 1? the pin will shift lev g-xr 24- so that the shoe 29 will press against the spring finger 1 on the intern'iediate y ":e 5?. This linger will thus be shifted inwardly so that the inturned end there "i will en age in an opening '59 in the next adjoining yoke to the left thereof. Thus the two yokes will be locked together until the character O on the middle wheel 18 appears in the window 17 whereupon the pin 23 will engage car 27 and throw the lever outwardly at its upper end to permit the finger to disengage from the opening 79. It will be noted thatall the carrying forward of the mechanism is consummated in 0118*fiffl66111ll1 ot the circum'l erence of the disk 41 This is true no matter how many columns can be added in the machine. Were it not for. the levers 2 1 the carrying forward would have to be accomplished progressively; any amount left over from the units column would first be carried forward to the tens column, thence to the hundreds column, thousands column, etc. For instance, assuming that 0.99 was showing in the window opening 17 and .01 was added, should the levers 2 1 and the corresponding fingers 61 be lacking, instead of 1.00 appearing in the window after the operating stroke of the crank arm, 0.00 would be the result. Likewise if .99 should be added to .01 the same result would be obtained. Should .01 be added to 9.99 with the levers 2 1 lacking the result would be 9.00 instead of 10.00. If the carrying forward should be done progressively in a seven column machine twelve-thirtieths of the circumference of the disk 4:1 would be required for this purpose. This would require a changing of the proportions of the parts which would render the machine very large, cumbersome and impractical- As previously stated, the levers 65 are only moved in one direction (forwardly and outwardly) by the lateral pins on the disks 11, inasmuch as the lateral portion of the bar 60 on the coupling yoke 59 moves them backwardly and inwardly on the return stroke of the bar 54, lateral pins being provided on the disks 18 for throwing the presser foot 29 forwardly again as the numeral 9 in the window changes to 0. From this, it becomes clear that the presser foot remains in operation until the corresponding disk 4-1 moves at least one space even though several sums are placed in the machine before that particular column of keys is made use of; therefore, each time the corresponding yoke 59 intersects the point of radial alignment between the disk 41 and the presser foot 29, said yoke will become locked to the next yoke to the left (representing the next highest decimal order), through the medium of the finger 61 on the first mentioned yoke. Now, suppose a sum is placed in the machine which actuates the disk to the immediate right of the first mentioned yoke sufficiently to throw its corresponding lever 65 into operating position, but leaves the disk 11 corresponding to said first mentioned yoke dormant. For example, suppose 1.99 was showing in the window and 1.01 was added. The movement of the right hand disk would force the right hand lever 65 into operating position, which would result in an increased movement of one space to the center disk. This increased movement is also transmitted to the left hand disk, since the two left hand yokes are locked together, resulting in the proper, total 3.00 being displayed in the window 17. Suppose in a seven column machine 09,999.99 appeared in the windows and .01 was added. The throwing outwardly of the right hand lever 2 1 would result in an increased movement of every disk to the left, this being necessary to cause the correct total 10,000.00 to appear.

A lever 65 is located in each of the spaces between the disks.

hat is claimed is:

1. In an adding machine a plurality of depressible keys arranged in columns, disks mounted for rotation, peripheral projections thereon, a carrying bar actuated by the user for movement in a path concentric with the disks and across the ends of the keys, and laterally tiltable channeled coupling devices carried by said carrying bar and shiftable by the depressed keys for engaging predetermined projections upon the respective disks.

2. In an adding machine depressible keys arranged in columns, disks having peripheral projections, means under the control of an operator for movement between the projections on the respective disks and concentrically of the axis of the disks, said keys, when depressed, constituting means for defleeting said movable means transversely of the arcuate path of movement thereof into engagement with selected projections to couple the disks to the movable means for movement therewith.

3. In an adding machine depressible keys, disks mounted for rotation and having peripheral projections, a member mounted for oscillation between the keys and disks, coupling means carried by the member and til"- able by the depressed keys transversely of the path of movement of said member to couple said member to selected projections upon the respective disks.

at. In an adding machine depressible keys disks mounted for rotation and having peripheral projections, a member mounted for oscillation between the keys and disks, coupling means carried by the member for lateral deflection by the depressed keys to couple said member to selected projections upon the respective disks, and means for automatically disengaging the coupling means from the disks during the completion of the movement of said member in one direction.

In an adding machine depressible keys, disks mounted for rotation and having peripheral projections, a member mounted for oscillation between the keys and disks, coupling means carried by the member for lateral deflection by the depressed keys to couple said member to selected projections upon the respective disks, and means movable with said member for resetting the keys.

6. In an adding machine spaced disks mounted for rotation about a common axis, peripheral projections thereon, number wheels engaged and actuated by the projections on the respective disks, depressible keys, a carrying bar mounted for arcuate movement between the disks and keys, and coupling devices carried by the carrying bar and shiftable transversely of the arcuate path of movement by the depressed keys during the movement of said member in one direction to couple the member to selected projections.

7. In an adding machine the combination with disks mounted for rotation about a common axis and peripheral projections on the disks, of a carrying bar mounted for movement in path concentric with the disks, yokes pivotally mounted on said mem her, channeled portions thereon extending in the direction of movement of the bar, depressible keys for engagement by said channeled portions to tilt the yokes laterally relative to the path of movement of said bar, and projecting portions carried by the yokes for engagement with selected projections when the yokes are deflect-ed.

8. In an adding machine the combination with disks mounted for rotation about a common axis and peripheral projections on the disks, of a member mounted for movement in a path concentric with the disks, yokes pivotally mounted on said member,

projecting portions thereon, depressible keys for engagement by said projecting portions to deflect the yokes laterally relative to said member, and projecting portions carried by the yokes for engagement with selected projections when the yokes are deflected, and switches in the paths of the key engaging projections for uncoupling the yokes from the disks.

9. In an adding machine the combination with a housing, of depressible keys having heads, yielding means engaging the keys to hold them normally in raised positions, a lifting plate movably engaging the keys and movably attached to the housing, said plate being shiftable to engage the heads of the keys to position them in a common plane.

10. In an adding machine a housing, depressible keys having heads, yielding means for holding the keys normally elevated, a lifting plate slidably engaging the keys and normally housing said yielding means, said plate being shiftable relative to the l1ousing to engage and elevate depressed keys.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVALTER KARL HARRIS. itnesses CooPWoon CHAPMAN, N. R. RmoUN'r. 

